Dely Zayas Tanner

Dely Zayas Tanner ~ March 23, 1946 – July 29, 2026

Dely Zayas Tanner passed away peacefully surrounded by her children, leaving behind a legacy of faith, resilience, and love that will continue through generations.

Dely was born on March 23, 1946, in Villa Maria, Cordoba, Argentina, the second child of Hilda and Enrique Zayas. As a young girl, she loved her ballet and folk dance classes, excelling in both and carrying a lifelong love of music and movement with her always. Her father, a writer and bookshop owner, filled her childhood with stories, and it was there, that her enduring love of reading first took root.

In 1953, Dely's family became the first converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their small Argentine town, a time of faith that would shape the course of her life. That faith never wavered. In her early teenage years, Dely moved with her family to the United States, settling in Glendale, California, where she attended Toll Jr. High and Hoover High School, and began building a new life in a new country, all while holding fast to the testimony planted in her youth.

In 1966, Dely married Victor Jones, and together they welcomed five children: Deborah, Todd, Dina (Cristina), Nathan, and Sarah. Dely was a strong and devoted mother who never missed an opportunity to bear testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Through her steady example and unwavering belief, she instilled a deep and lasting faith in each of her children.

Following her divorce from Victor in 1989, Dely married Henry "Smitty" Smith Tanner in 1990, who brought his three children, Kristen, Ryan, and Johnathan, into their newly blended family. Together, Dely and Smitty built a life rooted in love and shared devotion. In 2006, they moved to Lehi, Utah, where they became members of the Hunter's Grove Ward. Their faith later carried them back to Dely's homeland, where she and Smitty served a mission together in her home province of Cordoba, Argentina, a full-circle experience that held special meaning for her.

Dely's greatest joy in life was her family, especially her 16 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Beyond her family, she found beauty in music, reading, art, and travel, pursuits that reflected the richness and curiosity of her spirit from childhood through her final years.

When Smitty preceded her in death in 2016, Dely mourned him deeply, having lost her beloved eternal companion and partner. She is now reunited with him, along with her son Nathan, her parents, and other loved ones who have gone before her. Those who knew Dely find comfort in knowing that her reunion with them, and the faith she held so dear throughout her life, brings her peace on the other side of the veil.

Dely is survived by her children Deborah, Todd, Dina (Cristina), and Sarah; her step-children Kristen, Ryan, and Johnathan; and her many grandchildren and step-grandchildren, who carry forward her legacy of faith, love, and joy.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1631 East 900 North, Lehi, Utah. A viewing will begin at 10:00 am and a funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.